Coaster with detachable ski runner



P 1950 A. H. NORMANDIN 2,523,052

COASTER WITH DETACHABLE SKI RUNNER Filed Aug. 18, 1948 Patented Sept.19, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COASTER WITH DETACHABLE SKI RUNNERAlfred H. Normandin, Natick, Mass.

Application August 18, 1948, Serial No. 44,903

2 Claims. (01. 280-28) This invention relates tocoasters, and moreparticularly to coasters of the type shown in my application for UnitedStates Letters Patent Serial No. 752,174, filed June 3, 1947, forCoaster. This coaster includes a pair of sled members, each being ofinverted V formation and presenting a pair of laterally spaced parallelrunner elements along opposite edges, each of these runner elementsbeing relatively narrow and curved upwardly toward each other atopposite ends.

In accordance with the present invention a detachable ski simulatingrunner may be attached to each sled bridging and secured to both of itsrunners, thus presenting a broad runner surface well adapted to supportthe coaster on soft snow.

When the coaster is to be used on a harder surface, these ski runnersmay be removed,

- whereupon the spaced runners of the sled are in position tosupport thecoaster.

For a complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had tothe accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of thecoaster showing the ski runners attached.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of one of the sleds showing theski runner in position thereon.

Figure 3 is aside elevation of one of the sleds with ski runnerattached.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the same with parts broken away and insection.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the sled, the ski runner being removed.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in centralvertical section of the ski runner.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view on line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figure 1, the coaster as showncomprises a pair of-spaced sleds I and 2 supporting a board or platform3. The forward sled is pivoted to the platform as on the pivot 4 inorder to provide means for steering the coaster and the rear sled 2 ispreferably rigidly secured to the platform 3 at spaced points as shownat 5.

The forward sled I has its forward end provided with a steering bar 6 tofacilitate steering the coaster. Each of the sleds is of inverted Vformation, having a pair of side walls 1 and 8 downwardly and outwardlyinclined from a central apex portion 9 and terminating at their lowerends in a pair of parallel spaced runners I0. These runners may bprovided with longitudinal grooves l I in their lower faces. Theforward, and preferably also the rear ends, of both sleds are upwardlyturned as at I5 so that the runners in'the up-turned portions inclineinwardly toward each other as they approach the apex 9. The forward endof the platform 3 may be provided with a pivoted and notched element Itwhich may be lowered to engage the forward upper portion of th steeringsled in order to lock it against steering when this is desired. Thesespaced parallel sled runners are relatively narrow and thus will notsupport the coaster on light snow. To provide for better support underthese conditions these runners may be bridged by a ski runner showndetached in Figures '7 and 8. It is formed with a tread portion 20 of awidth to bridge across the sled runners l0 and curved upwardly andnarrowed at its ends to conform to the contours of the end portions ofthe sled runners. Intermediate to these ends, it is provided withupwardly extending elements 2| having inclined outer faces 22 arrangedto engage between the inner faces of the sled runners 1 and 8, thuslocating the ski runner with its tread portion in bridging relation tothe sled runners. It is also provided adjacent to its ends with a web 23which preferably extends from the upper ends of the ski runnerdownwardly inclined toward a central extension 24 of the web so that theweb is continuous from end to end of the ski runner. At suitable pointsthe ski runner web 23 is provided with transverse perforations 25 whichare arranged opposite to perforations 26 through the runners l and 8, sothat these runner and web openings are in alinement with each other.Means such as bolts 28 may be inserted through these matingperforations, each bolt 28 being provided with a head 29 at one end anda transverse perforation 30 at its opposite end for the reception of acotter pin 3!. These bolts 28 act to removably retain the ski runners inposition on the sled runners when this is desired, but by removing thecotter pins 3i, it is an easy matter to remove the bolts 28, thus todetach the ski runners when it is not desired to use them.

It will thus be seen that the ski runners provide means for properlysupporting the coaster on loose snow and by removing these ski runners,the coaster is provided with runners adapted to support it for operationon a harder sliding surface.

As shown the lower face of the ski runner may be provided withlongitudinal grooves 32 which aid in gripping the loose snow forsteering purposes and tend to prevent side slip.

From the foregoing description of an embodiment of this invention, itshould be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications might be made without departing from its spirit or scope.

I claim:

1. In combination with a sled member of inverted V formation having apair of spaced parallel runners, the ends of said runners being curvedupwardly and inclined inwardly toward each other, of a ski runnerbridging said sled runners and matingly curved upwardly andnarrowing atits ends, said ski runner having parts .engaging the inner walls of saidsled member for locating the ski runner with respect tonsaid sledrunners, and means for removably securing said ski runner to said sledmember.

2. In combination with a sled member of inverted V'formation having apair ofspaced parallel runners, the ends of said runners being curvedupwardly and inclined inwardly toward each other, of a ski runner havinga tread portion bridging said sled runners and matingly curved upwardlyand narrowing at its ends, said ski runner having upwardly extendingelements intermediate its ends having inclined outer faces engageablebetween the inner faces of said sled runners, and with a web having acentral portion and inclined end portions extending from the centralportion to the ends of said ski runner, said web having holestherethrough and said sled runner having holes alined with said webholes, and fastening means extending through said web and sled runnerholes to secure said ski runner to said sled member.

ALFRED H. NORMANDIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 83,339 Thurston Oct; 20-, 1868

